UKIP Northern Ireland

UKIP Rise in membership continues nationally and locally  

 
Six months ago we were told by the media and by our detractors that UKIP was on life-support. What a difference a few months makes. 
Nationally, under the leadership of Gerard Batten MEP – the party membership is the strongest and most active  it has been in almost three years. 

 Just last month, 3200 members joined UKIP across the UK. This is the third month of continuous growth and it’s a trend that’s expected to continue.

We are no exception locally. During the course of the past four weeks-our membership has risen in Northern Ireland by 33%! Rather than being finished here, we have only started.

Our clear and unambiguous message  is beginning to filter through locally – as evidenced by our recent event with Gerard Batten in Belfast and our two most recent days of action in Newtownards and Bangor. People are fed up of being taken for granted.

People who have never been involved in politics before, people from other parties, former UKIP members and supporters have joined recently. Mechanics, Scientists, local business owners, proud veterans, stay at home mothers, doctors and students are just some of the talented activists who have enrolled in the people’s army lately.

Those of us who have stayed loyal to UKIP’s core principles through thick and thin as volunteers and activists know that the work has only begun in earnest.  

With a united team, renewed focus, clear vision and free of unnecessary distractions  – UKIP will run a full slate of dedicated candidates in the local elections in Northern Ireland next year to give the people here a genuine alternative to the overpaid, work-shy legacy parties who continue to fund their lifestyles and take taxpayer’s money for very little graft.

Those wedded to a Government hell-bent on betraying the democratic wishes of the people know that they owe quite a few  votes to  the 350,000 patriots who voted leave here in Northern Ireland.

Our message to each and every one of you is clear:  UKIP is the authentic party of Brexit and is the one true voice for the patriotic working people across this nation . Make a stand and Join us.

Back Batten, vote UKIP, save Brexit, Save Britain. 🇬🇧

By Paul Girvan – UKIP Regional Controller (Northern Ireland)

Commenting on the unjust persecution of Sergeant O. and the continued witch hunt against Northern Ireland veterans relating to events that occurred thirty or forty years ago, UKIP Spokesman for Northern Ireland – Robert Hill said:

“Many brave ex-servicemen who served their country so faithfully – and put their lives on the line decades ago to defend us against the evil of IRA terrorism, continue to be unfairly hounded to the extreme – to simply appease the narrow agenda of Sinn Fein and others. These men who were young men at the time are now in their sixties and seventies.

 
“Sergeant O – previously awarded a medal for bravery is now a disabled widower who only lost his wife several months ago, and has been left in limbo for many years. 

 While Sgt. O has been hounded over fallen masonry; IRA terrorists have received comfort letters, Belfast Agreement amnesty and early release, and in certain cases – even if convicted of murder, are guaranteed a maximum sentence of merely two years.”

“Isn’t it the cruelest of ironies that Sgt. O and many others are being targeted in this way, in what is a clear witch hunt – whilst many of the murderers they defended us against walked free years ago. The constant unjust persecution of Sergeant O – and indeed all veterans must stop.”

   
UKIP is once again calling on the Government to act to STOP THE WITCH HUNT against our brave Veterans.

UKIP calls for change in NI law to require all medical professionals to report cases of FGM

‘Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is defined by the NHS as ‘a procedure where the female genitals are deliberately cut, injured or changed, but where there’s no medical reason.’

This barbaric and needless torture is now not something happening in far-off lands, but is happening here and now.  FGM is common practice in African nations and the Middle-East and is usually performed on naive children aged 5-8 year olds. Estimates indicate 130 million suffer worldwide. The NHS estimates there are 137,000 cases across the UK.

We in Northern Ireland have not escaped this blight – with figures obtained by the BBC through a recent freedom of information request showing 17 recent cases in the Belfast trust area alone in  9 months on women aged between 24 – 46.

Commenting on this, UKIP Spokesman for Northern Ireland, Robert Hill said:

“This practice cannot be allowed to continue.  FGM is rightly illegal in the UK, and in England –  medical professionals are required to report all such cases:  But through yet another failure of the legacy parties and the Stormont Assembly  –  this does not apply in Northern Ireland.”

“It’s truly appalling to think that when people come to our so called civilised country to escape persecution in their home countries –  many are then subjected to this,  needlessly disfigured and scarred both physically and mentally for life.

“UKIP demand a change in the current law to require all medical professionals in Northern Ireland to report these cases to the PSNI –  and for the PSNI to act, to fully investigate the cases and bring these evil torturers to justice.”

If you are suffering or know someone who is suffering –  the NSPCC has a specialist FGM support line : 0800 028 3550

UKIP Leader Gerard Batten MEP addressed a packed UKIP event in Belfast   on Wednesday evening (25th July.) An excellent evening was had by all and the local party is in great health.

Robert Hill, UKIP Spokesman for Northern Ireland commented:

“Membership is rising in Northern Ireland, we’ve had an almost a 30% growth in the last month. In line with the party on the mainland, this growth will continue – especially when Theresa May and all of those who support her continue to betray the democratic wishes of the people. Morale has lifted and our united UKIP team – with a  sense of mission will go towards next years council elections giving the people of Northern Ireland a real alternative to the backwards and failing legacy parties.”

On his visit – UKIP Leader, Gerard Batten MEP said:

“UKIP is the authentic party of Brexit and the party that’s standing up for the working people of this nation, in all four corners of it. We are up in the polls and our membership is growing rapidly.

“Locally, It’s great to see the party revived in Northern Ireland. We have hard-working activists who are putting in the groundwork and preparing to fly the UKIP flag in next years council elections. Across the United Kingdom, we are back on track and going from strength to strength.”

MLA pay has cost the taxpayer more than £9m since Stormont was suspended 18 months ago. Secretary of State Bradley must act now to call time on the charade of full MLA pay.

Six months ago, the Government received advice that full MLA pay should be cut. Four months ago, Parliament gave NI Secretary – Karen Bradley authority to cut MLA pay immediately.  Despite constant assurances, no action has been taken.

Commenting on this, UKIP Spokesman for Northern Ireland, Robert Hill said:

“For eighteen months, the people of Northern Ireland have had no fully functioning Assembly and executive, yet MLAs are still getting full-time pay for a job they are only partly doing. To date, this has cost the taxpayer over nine million pounds. Where else would this be acceptable?

“Many people across Northern Ireland are scraping by on lower incomes by working full time hours and in many cases – in temporary jobs with no long-term security.

“It is therefore another warped Stormont situation where we’ve had no functioning Assembly or Executive – yet ninety MLAs are still paid handsome full-time salaries and expenses; for the privilege of not carrying out the most basic function(s) of their job.

“Would an electrician, builder or mechanic get full pay if they downed tools for eighteen months?

“The answer is no. Yet it would appear that there’s a different rule for taxpayer funded MLAs who have spent just 46 minutes inside the Chamber they were elected to in those eighteen months. It’s unjustifiable for this practice to continue.”

Mr. Hill added:         

“We’re again calling on the Secretary of State to bring an end to her campaign of dithering and to take action by ending this charade of full MLA pay.”

“However, we believe that Her Majesty’s Government should go further and call time on this antiquated,  flawed and  expensive model of legislative devolution which has long since run its course. It’s time to look towards other models for the future Governance of Northern Ireland. Over the coming weeks, UKIP will be outlining our thoughts on this.”

Brexit was the beginning – it’s time for a people’s revolution

Today,  ‘liberal-left’ or ‘progressive’ ideas are all pervasive, whilst the ‘Conservative’ Party and its allies fail to defend or preserve anything. The organic social, spiritual, legal and economic institutions have been compromised and undermined in the name of vague and often conflicting promises of prosperity and equality.  This, whilst a global, ideological elite rule the roost: Dominating much of Europe with little accountability.

People have witnessed the rise of an ‘elite class’ –  a network of hyper-connected business, banking and tech tycoons and billionaires who bankroll and control NGO’s, larger political parties and governments like puppets on a string. Often times, celebrities and much of the modern mainstream media are their mouthpieces that read the scripts and trot out their talking points – word for word. (Someone refers to this as fake news..)

What remains has in many instances been filled by little more than blind consumerism, broken communities and social, spiritual and moral decline.  

Something is beginning to change though. In 2016 –  17.4 Million of us believed in the strength of our own nation and voted to take back control of our laws, land and borders from the monolithic E.U. and its paymasters.  In 2016, Donald J. Trump was elected as U.S. President on a promise of putting the American people first. (He is actually delivering on manifesto pledges – so clearly not reading from their script..)

There have been other notable developments too: We’ve seen the beginnings of a growth in patriotic populist movements in Europe. One example of this can be found in Germany – where the AfD has come from nowhere in four years,  to  become Germany’s opposition party. Another example is in Italy – possibly the biggest political earthquake to date, when the League and the Five Star Movement formed the new ruling coalition –  ‘the People’s Government’ on a promise to put Italy First. There are other examples too which prove that across Europe; many people are beginning to waken up to the realities of the world we are now living in.

Brexit started it all, but the very same people are still in power and they will do anything possible to deny us the freedoms which we democratically achieved at the ballot box. Mrs. May’s Chequers ‘White Paper’ is proof (if it was ever needed) that they may  allow us to leave in name –  but not in reality. Despite what the BBC will tell you –  the surge in UKIP support during the last few weeks is evidence that people know exactly what they voted for two years ago, and they will not be denied it.  Leave Means Leave, Brexit means total EU exit: Those are not just slogan’s.  However, Brexit is only the first chapter in the fight for freedom. 

At every level of government, and even within our education system –  in schools and campuses across the country; it’s clear that free speech is under attack. In a true democracy, when someone finds another’s ideas and opinions disagreeable, the solution ought to be a proper debate.  Yet instead of trying to persuade others to see their point of view –  many within society prefer to use the institutions of Government to censor, or hide behind absurd legal threats to bully their opponents into silence. Efforts like this are designed to stamp out meaningful debate and chill contrasting opinions.

In a United Kingdom context, UKIP is the one party dedicated to protecting freedom of speech and association for every person—no matter who they are or how much money they have. You don’t have to always agree with someone to recognise that they have a right to an opinion.  

As has been evidenced by the 2014 European elections, by the referendum result in 2016 and more recently, with the surge in UKIP membership and support – UKIP is a genuine political threat to the establishment across this nation: A threat that once again sits on 8% nationally (and growing), it’s highest vote share for almost two years. 

Brexit was round one. Surely it’s now time that we finished the job and had a people’s political revolution of our own?

JL

It is incomprehensible that the border issue has been allowed, never mind tolerated as a pawn in the Brexit Barter stakes.

When the Prime Minister committed to the pernicious ‘back stop’ arrangement, the writing was on the wall. The clear intention to sacrifice our historic partitioned border was a hurtful, spiteful and nasty piece of work.

Now it sits as an alternative to a customs union border set in the Irish Sea. Mrs. May – in her hot pursuit of brokering any sort of deal with Brussels has conceded in her White Paper that Northern Ireland is the weakest link.

‘The threat of a border in the Irish sea not only remains, but is rising’ is how Ben Lowry (News Letter) spelt it out last Saturday.

Be in no doubt that in welcoming our Government throwing in the towel – Leo Varadkar is not indicating that the Irish will withdraw their grip hold on the border. Far from it.

As a direct consequence of the Prime Minister pushing a softer than soft version of Brexit – as evidenced by her rolling over to the darling remainer elitists – and abandoning true control of our borders; she will vote for driving a customs border into the Irish Sea.

The ‘Brexit means Brexit’ call by the vicars daughter has turned into a disgraceful deceit. Such duplicity now sees her true Brexit mandate a demoralised busted flush – as demonstrated in a Sky poll reporting that a whopping 63% do not trust Mrs. May to deliver the Brexit they voted for.

As the Daily Telegraph editorial commented on the White Paper, ‘there is a looming sense of a sell-out.’

No longer can leavers believe that this Prime Minister will fight to achieve a true Brexit. No longer can Unionism be confident that this Conservative and ‘Unionist’ P.M. will protect our border and maintain its jurisdiction as the property of the United Kingdom.

The Chequers white paper is the epitome of a very ‘bad deal’ and is a massive climbdown- capitulating to  whatever Brussels dictates.

Gone are the red-lines including control of our borders. Who would have thought that a British Prime Minister’s future rests not with her party, not with the people, but is entirely left in the hands of the E.U.  in Brussels.

Unless Theresa May is replaced quickly by someone willing and able to save Brexit and willing to uphold the integrity of our Great Union; then who will save Northern Ireland from the border transferring by stealth to Irish control under E.U. dictation?

Opinion piece by David McNarry

Former UKIP MLA & Leader in NI